1/32 Willys `Follow Me`

[fmcVlad]

Originally Posted by Tex

@fmcVLAD:
Thanks a lot for your quick reply! :-) Yeah, the Mahindras were definitely post-war, but they still feature the "flat" hood, at least on the CJ2 ... again, as far as I know.
Got to check out the grill of the Bantam; y'all ARE making me curious! ;-)
Since I never mentioned it in my previous post: GREAT JOB !!!

Thanks Tex!

[airdave]

I think Bantam made 70 cars.

(edited post)

I was always under the assumption that Bantam had designed the Jeep, convinced everyone
but then lost the contract because the Military felt Bantam could not handle such a large contract.
And the Bantam design was given to Willys and Ford to produce.

...but it seems there is a lot more to the story than is widely known.
Seems the US Military wasn't completely honest with American Bantam.
And Bantam's original Jeep design was plagued with a number of issues.

I was just skimming through this article: http://www.42fordgpw.com/bantam.html
(sorry, the text/background colour is hard on the eyes)
but its explains the Bantam story and the Jeep history a little differently than other sources.

Note the pics of the original Bantam Jeep.

I smell a rat! If you read between the lines you once again see Ford's influence over the Military.
I wouldn't be surprised if they interfered with the the original contract going to Bantam.
The Military deviously did not reveal that they had already entertained a contract bid from Willys
until after Bantam had fully committed to the project.
And in the end Bantam could not meet the demands of the Military and the contract was sold to
Willys...and Ford was contracted to do half the production. lol

[fmcVlad]

I modified of the bonnet and grille

[Tex]

@fmcVlad: I'm plumb stunned ... what I see here is GREAT! Keep up the good work! Now, I'm particularly looking forward to seeing how you get the tires done; they always give me a headache, even if I design them myself, albeit at a different scale (1/87)!
@airdave: Thanks a lot for sharing the link to that article ... I think it's a great big shame how Bantam was forced all the way down the drain ... but then, as we all know, there are three ways to do things: the RIGHT way, the WRONG way, ... and the ARMY way ... <sigh>

[fmcVlad]

radio was a real headache, but now it's finished

[Vermin_King]

Outstanding work there.

[fmcVlad]

the model is finished, your comments ...)

[Vermin_King]

Very nicely done. I appreciate your eye for detail

[Tex]

Congratulations, your Jeep looks marvelous!
Are you going to make it available somehow?
- Tex

[Tom Lapinski]

Great looking build. I'm ready to jump in and take it for a trip down the runway. Do hope you make it available.